At last spring is upon us and the warm weather has returned. A month ago the cold weather had us dashing in and out of coffee bars in search of a hot drink -- Now I'm in search of something cooler.
If an ice cream parlor is what you're looking for in St Petersburg, then there's not a lot of choice. However, one place is the Gino Ginelli ice cream cafe just a stone's throw from Nevsky Prospect on Canal Griboyedova.
While the name may evoke images of luscious Italian ice-cream concoctions our visit was somewhat disappointing. The ice cream wasn't Italian but there were some interesting imitations.
In fact, this small cafe is an offshoot of the German owned Chaika restaurant which is situated next door and, according to the counter staff, virtually every item on the menu is imported from Germany.
I wandered into the almost deserted cafe looking forward to having a light meal and tasting ice cream flavors a touch more exotic then the Russian varieties of vanilla (which, although delicious, get monotonous).
Though the cafe is very small, a spacious relaxing ambience is created by mirror wall paneling and semi-circular cushioned seats which can seat up to six people.
Incongruously the tiny tables are scarcely large enough to hold two ice cream sundaes. Poster prints of delicious looking ice cream desserts decorate the walls and there is mellow music from Radio Nostalgia.
The counter staff wear brightly striped aprons. But their crisp appearance was undermined by a decidedly off-hand attitude to the few customers in the establishment.
The limited savory menu is wholly made up of prefabricated microwaved snacks.
Dishes include a range of soups (16,000-24,000 roubles). Chicken soup was comically translated as hen's soup -- not being much of a meat eater I was not enticed and chose one of the two vegetarian options, Pasta Venetziana (22,000 roubles). This was quite a grand name for a rather ungenerous portion of lukewarm rubber textured pasta with sticky mushrooms, cheese sauce and quite devoid of any garnish. Other savory options were: salami pizza, a range of burgers (4,000-12,000 roubles), spaghetti Bolognese (22,000 roubles), a portion of (curiously ) "vegetarian" vegetables (28,000 roubles), and a hot salami baguette (18,000 roubles)
The range of alcoholic drinks on offer included cocktails like ice cream cocktail "Milano" consisting of Campari, orange juice and vanilla ice cream and "Sorennto" with vodka, orange juice and vanilla ice-cream. Both cost 36,000 roubles. Also available are beer, vodka and Russian champagne, the latter ludicrously priced at 42,000 roubles for 200 grams.
An ambrosial selection of ice cream sundaes is available, priced at 28,000 to 60,000 roubles.
My friend chose the Coppa Bella Italia (28,000 roubles) made up of creamy pistachio and strawberry ice cream smothered in cream and topped with mandarin segments and chocolate sauce.
I barely waded through an ample tutti- frutti sundae (48,000 roubles) of delicately flavored vanilla and strawberry ice cream with wild berry sauce and plenty of tinned strawberries all smothered with fresh whipped cream.
Other dessert options included simple ice cream cones (6,000 roubles) with a rainbow choice of flavors from which to select.
We finished up with excellent percolated coffee (12,000 roubles) but Cappuccino (12,000 roubles) and tea (12,000 roubles) are also available.
Gino Ginelli is a fine venue for an ice cream treat but if ravenous after a day's sight seeing you would come away just slightly less ravenous!
A meal of elegant proportions (without alcoholic drinks) will set you back $10-$20. (100,000 roubles)